Planktonic Planktonic OrganismsOrganisms

IntroductionIntroduction Plankton = Organisms that Plankton = Organisms that

drift in the waterdrift in the water Cannot move against the Cannot move against the

currentcurrent Characterized by size:Characterized by size:

Pico-, nano-, micro-, macro- Pico-, nano-, micro-, macro- and mega-planktonand mega-plankton

Most abundant type of life Most abundant type of life on earthon earth

Basis of the marine food Basis of the marine food webweb

Types of planktonTypes of plankton ““Plankton” describes a Plankton” describes a

lifestyle, not an ancestral lifestyle, not an ancestral relationship or evolutionary relationship or evolutionary connectionconnection The inability to swim is the The inability to swim is the

only feature common to all only feature common to all plankton.plankton.

Organisms may be:Organisms may be: PhotosyntheticPhotosynthetic (phytoplankton)(phytoplankton) ChemosyntheticChemosynthetic (bacteria)(bacteria) HeterotrophicHeterotrophic (zooplankton)(zooplankton)

PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton Drift within the photic zoneDrift within the photic zone Provide 40% of the food made by Provide 40% of the food made by

photosynthesis on Earthphotosynthesis on Earth Main kinds:Main kinds:

Diatoms (Radiolaria)Diatoms (Radiolaria) Dinoflagellates (symbiotic)Dinoflagellates (symbiotic) Cyanophytes/CyanobacteriaCyanophytes/Cyanobacteria Archaebacteria Archaebacteria CoccolithophoresCoccolithophores PicoplanktonPicoplankton

ZooplanktoZooplanktonn ““Animal” planktonAnimal” plankton

Nearly every major animal Nearly every major animal group is represented group is represented

HeterotrophsHeterotrophs Most numerous consumers in Most numerous consumers in

the oceanthe ocean Graze on phytoplanktonGraze on phytoplankton

Two types:Two types:1.1. Holoplankton Holoplankton

2.2. MeroplanktonMeroplankton

Octopus larva Octopus adult

Zooplankton Zooplankton ExamplesExamples

Terebellid worm larva

Scale worm larva

Copepod Candacia

Mantis shrimp larva

Burrowing Anemone larva

HoloplanktonHoloplankton Organism that spends its entire life as Organism that spends its entire life as

planktonplankton Examples: krill, copepods, some sea snails Examples: krill, copepods, some sea snails

& slugs, jellyfish and some marine worms. & slugs, jellyfish and some marine worms.

Sea Butterfly, Pteropod

Rhizostome jellyfish

Planktonic Polychaete worm

MeroplanktonMeroplankton Organism that only spends the larval Organism that only spends the larval

stages as planktonstages as plankton Examples: sea urchins, starfish, sea Examples: sea urchins, starfish, sea

squirts, crustaceans, octopus, marine squirts, crustaceans, octopus, marine worms, and most reef fishes. worms, and most reef fishes.

Anemone larva

Anemone adult

Starfish larva

Starfish adult

CrustaceansCrustaceans Most abundant kind of meroplanktonMost abundant kind of meroplankton Examples: Examples: lobsters, crabs, prawns, lobsters, crabs, prawns,

pill bugs, krill, barnacles, water fleas, pill bugs, krill, barnacles, water fleas, and brine shrimp (sea monkeys)and brine shrimp (sea monkeys)

Lobster Metamorphosis

Larva

Juvenile

Adult

Larva

Juvenile

Adult

Mantis Shrimp

Staying AfloatStaying Afloat Buoyancy = ability Buoyancy = ability

to stay afloatto stay afloat- Swim bladderSwim bladder- Store lipidsStore lipids

Increase surface Increase surface area/water area/water resistanceresistance- Flat shapeFlat shape- Form chainsForm chains- Projections or Projections or

spinesspines

BioluminesceBioluminescencence Light produced by some Light produced by some

organismsorganisms Dinoflagellates Dinoflagellates

May be produced by symbiotic May be produced by symbiotic bacteria or enzymesbacteria or enzymes

Uses:Uses: communicationcommunication luring preyluring prey CamouflageCamouflage Escaping from predatorsEscaping from predators

Blue, green, or redBlue, green, or red Brightness can be controlled, Brightness can be controlled,

base on surroundingsbase on surroundings

Video Notes: Deep OceanVideo Notes: Deep Ocean

Number your paper from 1-20Number your paper from 1-20 Write down 20 facts/examples from Write down 20 facts/examples from

the video.the video.